Course 6 develops new “Super” UROPs
Starting Fall 2012, juniors and seniors in Course 6 will have the option to participate in the Advanced Undergraduate Research Program, also known as the “Super” UROP. Students in the program commit to a full year of research with their chosen lab or group, as well as two semesters of the six-unit 6.UAR (Preparation for Undergraduate Research) class, which focuses on topics such as choosing and developing a research topic, industry best practices, and presentation skills.
The Tech’s news digest for May 8
The Tech’s new biweekly digest is the best way to hear news from around campus fast! Take five minutes to listen to the latest happenings at MIT and in the community.
CORRECTIONS
An opinion piece published on May 4 claimed that the national debt almost tripled in three years after Obama took office. It actually went up by 33 percent.
No ’16s to come from waitlist
For the first time in seven years, no students will be admitted off the waitlist for the incoming freshman class. By last Tuesday, 1,130 prospective students, or 70 percent of admitted students, confirmed their enrollment at MIT for the coming fall — MIT’s highest yield ever.
Free Wi-Fi on the Common
Boston Common recently made the jump to the 21st century when the 378-year-old park became equipped with free wireless Internet.
Presidential search will likely conclude by June
The search process to replace President Susan J. Hockfield is on-track to conclude by early June, according to MIT Corporation officials.
The Tech’s news digest for May 4
The Tech’s new biweekly digest is the best way to hear news from around campus fast! Take five minutes to listen to the latest happenings at MIT and in the community.
MIT & Harvard join forces for edX
The world has come to expect great things when the university titans of Cambridge join forces. After all, Harvard and MIT led the international team that cracked the human genome together in 2003.
MIT takes a second shot at Kendall
MIT’s new plan for the future of the Kendall Square and the Institute’s eastern campus envisions an outdoor extension of the Infinite Corridor from E25 to E53, and a new open “riverwalk” from the Kendall’s Point Park along Wadsworth Street to the Charles River.
MIT professors and alumni elected to National Academy of Sciences
Four MIT professors and six MIT alumni were elected to the National Academy of Sciences this past Tuesday, May 1. This election brings the total number of MIT faculty members who are part of the Academy to 78, and the number of MIT affiliates — emeritus and former faculty, current and former staff, and alumni — to 199, according to a press release from the MIT News Office. Membership honors those who have made significant contributions in original research. In total, 84 new members and 21 foreign associates were elected this year.
The ‘holy grail’ of hacks
153 windows, 153 pixels. Two weekends ago, the front of the Green Building lit up in a colorful display of the popular puzzler Tetris. The 17x9 pixel screen spanned over 80 by 250 feet — making it the second largest screen in the nation. Appearing mysteriously on Friday night, the Tetris hack was the culmination of over four and a half years of work by an undisclosed number of hackers. With the completion of the hack came the conclusion of a dream; the idea of transforming Building 54 into a working game of Tetris has been a fantasy of hackers for decades.
Occupy enthralls world of academia Social scientists study protests through survey data, oral history
If surveys of Occupy Wall Street supporters conducted in the fall still hold true, the crowds of protesters expected to turn out Tuesday for May Day events across the country will likely skew male, young, white, college-educated, underpaid and thoroughly disgusted with the U.S. political system.
4.75% increase in grad stipend
Graduate stipends will be increasing by 4.75 percent for the 2012-2013 school year. The recommended yearly stipend for research assistants will be $30,888 at the doctoral level, and $28,236 at the Master’s level. Graduate teaching assistants will receive $31,644.
Faculty suggest presidential picks
This week, faculty again took to the pages of their Newsletter to chime in on key Institute developments, including the selection of the next president, MIT 2030, and MITx. The March/April newsletter’s editorial page also featured faculty thoughts on the presidential search process, in addition to 10 suggestions for specific people who could replace President Susan J. Hockfield.
IN SHORT
The Red Line will be replaced with shuttle bus service between Kendall and Broadway Saturday and Sunday. Allow for a few extra minutes when going downtown this weekend! Buses will stop at all stations except Downtown Crossing. Riders must walk from Park Street to transfer to the Orange line.
Planning board review of MIT 2030
MIT will present a new round of its ideas for the future of Kendall Square and the MIT campus east of Ames St. at Tuesday evening’s public meeting of the Cambridge Planning Board.